Three cheers (and wins in a row) for Vives Apprentice jockey Sofia Vives swept the first three races on Saturday’s card. The rising star rider took the first race with Different Drum, for trainer Stuart Simon, the second with Mi Corazon, for trainer Mark Casse, and completed the triple aboard Confusing, for conditioner Gail Cox. A $1 Vives Pick 3 returned $45.95. Confusing and jockey Sofia Vives winning Race 3 on September 30, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Hall of Fame natural hat trick Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame inductee Josie Carroll sent out three straight winners on Saturday. The trainer, who is closing in on 1,000 career victories, won the seventh race with Legs Like Flatter, the eighth with Dolce Sopresa and the ninth with Mason’s Gamble. Each win came over a different surface. Mason’s Gamble and jockey Sahin Civaci winning Race 9 on September 30, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Best shot Junior Hot Shot, owned by T and T Racing Team, and trained by John Ross, made an impressive debut in Sunday’s first race. Under Justin Stein, the 2-year-old son of Souper Speedy-Executive Dreamer posted a 6 ½-length win in the 6 ½ furlong Tapeta race. The dark bay paid $5.60 for the win. Inside track Forever Dixie, ridden by Patrick Husbands, burst through along the rail to win Sunday’s $125,000 Ontario Damsel Stakes Presented by Ketel One, for 3-year-old fillies, at 1 1/16 miles over the Woodbine Tapeta. Bred and owned by John C. Oxley, the daughter of Quality Road-Dixie Strike made her first three starts in the U.S. before arriving at Woodbine last fall, where she promptly broke her maiden on October 1. One year to the day later, she recorded her first stakes win. Forever Dixie and jockey Patrick Husbands winning the Ontario Damsel Stakes on October 1, 2023 at Woodbine (Michael Burns Photo) Worth hearing “It feels amazing. I’ve always tried to win the Triple Crown and I’ve finally made it. Last week, I got on him in the morning and he was a very nice horse on the turf.” – Champion jockey Kazushi Kimura, who won his first Canadian Triple Crown race, when he teamed with Touch’n Ride to win Sunday’s $400,000 Breeders’ Stakes. Worth watching Watch a thrilling edition of the Breeders’ Stakes, as Touch’n Ride and Elysian Field dig in and duel down the long E.P. Taylor turf stretch. Worth knowing: Sunday’s outstanding card of racing is highlighted by the running of the $750,000 Canadian International Stakes (G1). The iconic event is complemented by the $750,000 E.P. Taylor (G1T), $250,000 Nearctic (G2T), and $200,000 Algonquin. There will also be a tribute to the 50th anniversary of the legendary Secretariat’s iconic International triumph, in the form of a “Big Red” exhibit presented by the National Museum of Racing & Hall of Fame, which will be showcased at Woodbine from October 5-8. https://woodbine.com/stakes-schedule/ Share This:Share
